The drive-by shootings, intimidation, drug dealing and use of ultra forms of violence can be compared with the paramilitary gangs in Northern Ireland.

On one side, like the IRA, the Burgers are better organised and better funded than the Johnson Crew and because of that, equipped with more powerful weaponry.

People are 'sickened' by the shootings and are helping police

The men accused of the murders of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis are believed to have been members of the Burgers.

Meanwhile on the other side, rival group the Johnsons are more like the Loyalists - there are more of them than the Burgers, they are younger and are split into several factions with names like the Cash Money Crew and the Raiders.

The gangs got their names from two cafes in Handsworth where black youths congregated in the late 80s and early 90s.

The Burger Bar was on the Soho Road while the Johnson café was in Heathfield road.

Yardie gangsters

Legend has it that both gangs were friends and that they fell out over a bet on who won a game of "Streetfighter" on the Playstation.

By the late 90s, these computer games had moved off the screen and out on to the streets.

The killings began in the last days of 1995 as these young men fought off Yardie gangsters.

They copied the Jamaican gangs' ruthless disregard for life and reckless use of guns and violence.

Because of their public nature innocent people would witness the violence